Car-fender.



PATENTED AUG. l5, 1905.

W. B. ROHMER.

UAR FENDER. APPLIGATION IHrm) Nov. 7,1904.

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No. 797,229. PATENTE!) AUG.15, 1905. W.V B. RGHMER.

' CAR FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1904.

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VilLliilAlri B. RUHt/IRR, OF .BAY tl. LUUlS, tiiliriSliSSIPPI.

Speeieation of Letters 1"atent, i

lt-atented Aug. 15, 1905.,

Application tiled November 7, 19011. Serial No. 231,769.

.To all 7.071/0771/ it 771/607/ concern:

Be it known that I, itTILLnuir B. Romarin, a citizen of the United ttates, residing' at Bay St. Louis, in the county of Hancock and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful Car-Fender, oi which the following is a specification.

This invention has particular relation to that type of fender wherein a downwardlymovable catch member is employed that is normally held elevated by a trip member, the latter being operated by the object to be picked up. ln other words, it belongs particularly to that class of Afenders in which the structure is placed that is set forth in and covered by a prior patent granted to me on d une 17, 1902, and numbered 702,484.

The object in `the present case .is to provide an improved iender which may be readily applied to a car, can be detached therefrom with expedition, is easily placed out ot' the way ii it becomes necessary to couple two cars, is normally supported out oi: engagement with the track or roadway, is released by contact oi an object therewith, and is immediately dropped to and locked in an operative position to catch and retain the object.

The preferred embodiment oi.t the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinw Figure 1 is a perspective view oi' a portion oi the car, showing the improved tender in place thereon. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the Afender, together with the entire supporting mechanism therefor. Fig. 3 is a side elevation oil2 the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken'on the line L1 i o1 Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is another sectional view taken on the line 5 5 ol llig. 2. Fig. G is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6 6 oi Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a crosssectional View on the linerw 'i' of Fig. 2. AFig. 8 is a detail section on the line h 8 o1 Fig. 7. iiig. 9 is another detail sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 2. llbig. 10 is a detail sectional view through one set ot' coacting devices for supporting the catch member, this section being taken on the line 10 lO ot Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the connections between the air-brake mechanism and the fender. Fig. 12 is a slightly-modiiied means of securing the fender to a car.

Similar reference-mimerals designate corresponding parts in all the iigures oi.i the drawings.

lin the embodiment illustrated spaced guideways are formed by sets of spaced bars 1.3, which are arranged to be secured to the under side oi the ioor 14- oi a ear-body, as shown in Fig. 3, said guideways being located longitudinally of the body. bilidably mounted in these guideways is a supporting-frame coniprising a transverse bar 15, that extends through the guideways and projects beyond the opposite sides ot the bars 13, said bar 15 carrying rearwz'irdly-extending arms 16, connected at their rear ends by a cross-brace 17. The Alrame can be moved rearwardly in the guideways, but is normally held in advanced position by means of pins 18, which are passed downwardly through the bars 13 in rear ot' the bar The bar 15 is provided outside the guideways with transverse sockets 19, formed by suitable keepers 20, secured to said bar, and the rearwardly-extending arms 1G a re provided at their rear ends with similar sockets 21. These sockets respectively receive depending hanger-lnaces 22 and 23, having oli`- set upper ends 24., received in said sockets and held in place by detachable holding devices 25. The rearmost braces 23 incline forwardly and downwardly, and all of said braces have 'l'orwardly-extending lower ends 2G, secured to the under side ol and supporting a transverse hinge-bar 27, preferably, though not necessarily, formed oi wood. rlhe space bctween the hinge-bar and the upper supporting-frame is preferably bridged by a backstop 28, formed olE netting' or other suitable material. The hinge-bar constitu 55, in e1"- feet, the direct support ior the fender, ineluding the catch member and the controlling mechanism therefor. '.lhe former consists o1 a suitable iframe 29, including a rear rod 30, located j ust .in advance ol" the bar .27 and suitably hinged thereto. The frame Qd incloses a suitable lmsket-netting 31, and the liront of the iframe is prelirably cushioned, as shown at lt will thus be apparent that this catch member basan upward and a downward movement. Supported on the hinge-har 27 on opposite sides of the :atcb member are forwardly-extending guidr-i-boxings 33, in which are journaled spaced sets oi rollers 3d, that slidably receive the trip member. rlhis trip member is made up of rear sections in the iorm of spaced bars 35, slidably mounted in the boxings between the rollers oft and having pivoted between their .front ends a tripsection in the form oi? a yoke 36, that entends around in advance et the catch meniber. The pivots 3T tor this trip-section are extended inwardly, as shown at 38, over the opposite sides of the catch member, and thus act in the nature of stops to limit the upward movement of said member. Stop-bolts 38a, connecting the bars of each set of spaced bars 35, are located in the paths of movement of the rear ends of the trip-section 36, and thus limit the downward movement of the same. The front cross-piece 39 of the trip-section is coneaved to provide a channel or seat for a buffer 40, that is preferably in the form of an inliatable tube, secured to said cross-piece in any suitable manner and having a valved nipple 41, by means of which this cushion may be iniiated.

By reference particularly to Figs. 2 and lO it will be noted that the catch member is provided on opposite sides with outwardly-extending ears 42, while the trip-section carries on its inner sides rollers 43, adapted to be placed beneath the ears 42 when the trip member is moved forwardly, thereby supporting the catch member within the trip member and elevating' it a considerable distance above the roadway. It will be evident, however, that when the trip member is moved rearwardly these rollers will pass from beneath the ears, thus releasing the catch member and permitting it to drop to a depressed position. Then the two members are thus released, the outer trip-section is arranged to be elevated, and for this purpose coiled springs 44 are employed, secured at their front ends to the sides of the trip-section yoke, their rear ends being fastened to upstanding lingers 45, carried by the bars 35 and preferably located in the boxings 33. The downward movement of the catch member when released is limited by stop-fingers 46, which may, as shown, be secured transversely to the under side of the hinge-bar 27, projecting forwardly beneath the side bars of the catch-member frame and being located in the paths of movement of said side bars or, vice versa, may be carried by the side bars and abut against the hingebar. In order to secure the immediate downward movement of the catch member when released from the trip member, leaf-springs 47 are preferably employed, secured at their rear ends upon the hinge-bar 27 and having their front portions extending over and bearing upon the side bars of the catch-member frame. Locking means are also employed for positively holding the catch member in its depressed position. Said means consist of racks 48, carried by the opposite side bars of the catch-member frame and engaged by dogs 49, pivoted to the inner sides of the guideboxings 33.

The operation of the structure as thus far described may be brieliy outlined as follows: Under normal conditions the catch member is elevated and held thus by the trip member, which is moved forward a suliicient distance to engage the rollers 43 beneath the ears 42.

supporting-frame.

If, however, an objectas, for instance, a person-is in the path of the moving car, such object will be first struck by the cushioned front end of the trip. Thereupon the trip will move rearwardly until the rollers 43 pass from beneath the ears 42. Immediately the springs 44 will act to raise the trip-section, and the springs 4`T`will move the catch member downwardly until it rests upon the stops 46, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Moreover, in this position the catch member is locked by the dogs 49 engaging' the racks 38. Thus the object struck by the trip member will be caught upon the catch member and will not pass beneath the ear.

It will be readily seen that this structure can be applied with ease to a ear and can be made to project in advance of the same as far as desired. The fender may also be readily detached by removing the ends 24 of the hanger-brackets 22 23 from the sockets of the Should it become necessary or desirable to couple two cars together, the fender may be readily placed out of the way by merely removing the pins 18, whereupon the supporting-frame and the fender carried by it can be moved bodily in a rearward direction and beneath the car. However, instead of this sliding support the fender may be readily fastened to the vcar in the manner shown in Fig. l2. The usual hingebar is designated 272L and may carry the meehanism in the usual manner. This hinge-bar is secured in thc manner already described to depending' hanger-brackets 22(l and 23, the upper ends 24 of which are bolted directly to the car-body.

Means are also employed, if desired, in connection with the above-described fender for effecting the operation of the brakes when the object is caught by said fender. A simple form of such means is shown diagrammatically in Fig. ll. lt will be observed, pari ticularly by reference to Fig. 3, that the rear ends of the bars 35 are provided with tripsockets 50, and these sockets are adapted to receive the forwardly-extending terminals 5l of a cross-rod 52. This cross-rod has a link connection 53 with a threeway valve 54, suitably located in the piping of an air-brake system. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1l, the airreservoir is shown at 55 and the brake-cylinder at 56. This air-reservoir has the usual pipe connection 57 with the cylinder, which connection is controlled by a motormans valve A branch connection 59 is also made between the two, and in this branch connection may be placed the valve 54, that is connected with the trip member. lVith this combination it will be apparent that when the trip member is moved rearwardly to release the catch member the valve 54 will be opened to permit an air-supply from the reservoir to the brake-cylinder, so that the brakes will be applied and the car immediately stopped.

ver/,sas

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages et the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in thesize, shape, proportion,

and minor details ol'l construction may be re-A sorted to without departing from the spirit o1' sacrificing any of the advantages oit' the invention.

lliaving thus described my invention, what l. claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

jle. In a car-fender, the combination with a catch member', of a movable trip member for detachably supporting the catch member, means for securing the 'tender to a car, and a device engaging` the securing means and catch member Afor supporting said catch member above the track when disengaged from the trip member and dropped.

2. ,lin a car-fender, the combination with a catch member, of a movable trip member detachably supporting the same, means Yfor securing' the fender to a car, anda device carried by said means and located in the path oll movement oi the fender for arresting the downward movement of said fender when disengaged trom the trip member.

3. .ln a car-fender, the combination with a catch member, ot' a movable trip member lor detachably surmorting the same, means for securing the fender to a ear including a hingebar to `which the catch member is hinged, and outwardly extending supporting lingers secured to the hinge-bar and extending beneath the catch member, said lingers arresting the downward movement ot' the catch member and supporting the same when detached `from the trip member'.

li. 1n a car-tei'ider, the combination with supporting means, ot' a trip member comprising' a section slidably mounted on the supporting means, and a trip-section hinged to the slidable section, a catch member hinged to the supporting means and having a detachable engagement with the trip member, a vrack located on the catch member, and a dog pivoted upon the supporting means and having a movable engagement with the rack.

5. In a car-fender, the combination with supporting means including spaced guideboxings, of a trip member comprising bars slidably mounted in the boxings and a section pivoted to the bars, a catch member hinged to the supporting means and having' a dctachable engagement with the pivoted section, racks carried by the catch member, and dogs pivoted upon the boXings and having movable engagements with the racks.

G. lin a car-fender, the combination with a hinge-bar, of means for mounting the same on a car, a catch member hinged to the bar, a trip member for normally holding the catch member elevated, and depressing springs mounted on the hinge-bar and bearing upon the catch member to depress the same when disengaged from the trip member.

7. in a car-fender, the combination with a hinge-bar, of means `forsecurimr the same to a car, a catch member hinged to the bar, a trip member Afor normally holding' the catch member elevated, and leaf-springs secured to the hinge-bar and having tree portions projecting over and bearing upon the catch member, said springs depressing said catch member when disengaged 'from the trip member.

8. In a car-tender, the combination with supportingmeans, oi" a trip member comprising a section slidable on the supporting means, a trip-section hinged tothe slidable section, a spring connected to both sections, a downwardly-movable catch member, and detacliably-engaging devices respectively carried by the catch and trip members.

9. in a car-fender, the combination with su pporting means, olf' a trip member comprising side bars slidable upon the supporting means, a trip-section pivoted to the bars, coiled springs connecting the trip-section and the bars, and a catch member hinged to the supporting means and having detachable engagements with the trip member.

l0. ln a car-tender, the combination with supporting means including' guide-boxings, ol a catch member hinged to the su pporting means, a trip member comprising' side bars slidable in the boxings and a trip-section pivotcd to the bars, upstanding lingers carried by the bars, coiled springs connected to the trui-section and the lingers, and means carried by the trip andpcatch members for normally supporting the latter.

l1. ln a car-fender, the combination with a hinge-bar, et' guide-boxingslocated thereon, means 'for su pporting the hinge-bar 'from a car, a catch member hinged to the bar, means carried bythe bar and located beneath the catch member for supljiorting the same in depressed position, springs carried bythe bar and engaging the catch memberto depress the same, means Vfor holding the catch member in depressed position, and a trip member comprising side bars slidably mounted in the boxings, a trip-section pivoted to the bars and extending in front of the catch member, and coiled springs connecting thc bars and trip-section.

l2. In a car-fender, the combination with a hinge-bar, of means Vfor securing the same to a car, a downwardly-movable catch member hinged to the bar, and means carried by the bar for controlling the movement of the catch member.

13. in a car-fender, the combination with a hinge-bar, of hanger-braces for suspending' the same from a car, a downwardly-movable catch member hinged to the bar, and a trip member movably supported on the bar and having` a detachable engagement with the catch member.

14. In a car-fender, the combination with a transverse hinge-bar, ot hanger-braces for y side of the same, a frame shdably mounted 1n suspending the same from a car, a downwardlymovable catch member hinged to the bar, means carried by the bar for supporting the catch member in its lowered position, a trip member movably supported on the bar for normally holding the catch member in elevated position, devices carried by the bar for holding the catch member depressed, and means carried by the bar for depressing said catch member when disengaged from the trip member.

15. In a car-fender, the combination with a support, of means for slidably mounting the support on a car, a catch member movably mounted on and movable with the support, and trip mechanism for normally holding the catch member against downward movement, said mechanism being' movably mounted on the support.

16. In a car-fender, the combination with a supporting-frame, of means for slidably securing the frame to a car, a catch member pivotallysuspended from the frame and movable therewith, and trip mechanism for normally supporting the catch member, said trip mechanism being also mounted on the frame and including a device projecting in advance of the catch member.

17. In a car-fender, the combination with a supporting-frame, of means for movably securing the frame to a car, a catch member pivotal] y suspended from the frame,and means carried by and movable with the iframe for holding the catch member against pivotal movement.

18. In a car-fender, the combination with guides, of a frame slidably mounted in the guides, a hinge-bar detachably suspended from the frame, a catch member hinged to the bar, and controlling means for said. catch member mounted on the bar.

19. In a car-fender, the combination with spaced guides, of a frame slidably mounted in the guides and having sockets, a hinge-bar, hanger-braces secured to the hinge-bar and detachably engaging in the sockets of the frame, and a catch member carried by the bar.

20. In a ear-fender, the combination with av car-body floor, of guides secured to the under the guides, hanger-braces secured to the frame, a hinge-bar carried by the lower ends of the braces, a downwardly-movable catch member hinged to the bar, and means for controlling' the catch member also carried by the bar.

21. In a car-fender, the combination with brake mechanism, of a movable catch member, a movable trippmember controlling the movement or' the catch member, and means operated by the trip member upon its movement to throw the brake mechanism into operation.

22. In a car-fender, the combination with brake mechanism, of a movable catch member, a movable trip member controlling the movement of the catch member, and means automatically operated upon the movement of the trip and catch members to throw the brake mechanism into operation.

23. In a car-fender, the combination with air-brake mechanism including a controllingvalve, of a downwardly-movable catch member, a rearwardly-movable trip member normally spporting the catch member and detachable therefrom upon its rearward movement, and operating' means for the controlling-valve having connections with the trip member and operated upon its rearward movement.

2a. In a car-fender, the combination with air-brake mechanism including a controllingvalve, ot' a downwardly-movable catch member, a rearwardly-movable trip member having detachable engagement with the catch member` and normally supporting the same, said trip member having rearwardly-extending bars, a cross-rod connecting the bars, and

a link connection between the cross-rod and l the valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto ariixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM B. ROHMER.

IVitiiesses:

E. S. Darum, IV. J. GEX. 

